The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-02
JEFFERsON'S INGENUITY.
Interesting and Curious Features of His
Home Mt Monticello.

Interesting and Curious Features of His
Home Mt Monticello.
Frank Stock ton, in September Century.
think it is not generally known with what
pleasure and zeal Jefferson brought his mind to
bear not only upon the developm ent OF his
what grand ideas in regar TO a home but upon
the most minute and peculiar contrivances for
convenience aud adornment He drew plans
and made estimates for nearly every thing that
was built or constructed on his place, He cal
culated the number of bricks to be used in every
part of his buildings, and his family possess
elaborately-drawn plans OF such bits of house
hold furnishing as curtain valeuces' and the
like. Many of his ideas in regard to building
and furnishing he brought with him from
France but more OF them had their origin in his
BRAIN There were 10 bedsteads IL his house, but
in every chamber there was an alcove in the wall
in which wooden framework was built which
supported the bed His own sleepin g-arrange-
ments during the lifetime of his wife were of
very peculiar nature; in the partition between
two chambers was archway, and in this arch
way was the double bed; one chamber was Mr..
Jefferson's room, and the other was his wife's
dressing room; when he in the morning re
got out of bed into his own room, and Mrs. JEFF
ferson got out into her room. After his wife's
death her room became his study, AID the parti-
ton wall between il and the library being taken
down, the whole thrown into the present
large apartment Over the archway in which
the bed is placed is long closet reached by a
stepladder placed in another closet at the foot
of the bed In this were stored in summer the
winter clothes of the family, and in winter their
summer habilaments. AT the other side of the
arch there is small door, so that persons going
from to the other had need TO
Chamber over the bed.
"In the smaller chamber, when it became his
study, stood Mr. Jefferson's writing chair which
made to suit his peculiar needs the chair
itself was high backed, well Grounded and cush-
Toned, and in front of it extended a cushioned
PLATFORM which Mr. jefferson found it very
pleasant to stretch mis- legs, being sometimes
troubled with swelngs of the smaller veins of
these limbs The writing table so made
that it could be drawn up this platform,
legs and all. and pushed down when not in use.
The top of this table turned pivot;
side OF it were his writing materials, and on the
other was the little apparatus By which ne made
copies of all his letters. By his side was another
lay, or were held open at proper angles. Near
him also stood pair OF large globes;
and, if he wished to study anything outside of
this world, he had in the room two long tees-
copes mounted on brass tripods. Convenient,
also were his violins. one Cremona and the
other the bass-viol saved from the Shadwell fire.
Besides the book-shelves and the somewhat
simple furniture of the library, there a
number OF oddly contrived little closets, in
which were stored his multitudinous manu-
scripts. There is writing-table in tho
possession of the family, which was frequently
used by Mr.. Jefferson, and which is ingeniously
contrived: Two of its four legs hol-
low, and in these run rods resting upon
springs by which the table can be easily
elevated, the other two legs being also extensi-
blef but in q different way. When Mr.. Jefferson
was tired Of writing in a sitting position. he
could stand up and raise this table to the desired
height. When he wished to it s. reading
stand the top could be inclined at any angle.
and a strip of brass brought into use to
keep the books and papers from sliding off.
"Opening from the library a large
incosed with glass, which intended for
conservatory, but used by Mr.. Jefferson
his work-room. There he had work bench
with all sorts of carpenters tools. with which he
constructed a great many of the small conven-
fences he invented"